Stuff the Bus Returns This Weekend — “The buses are fueled and ready to roll as…the county’s post-holiday food drive, now in its 12th year…hits the road in the fight against hunger in Fairfax County. Beginning on January 14 and continuing weekly through February 18, Fastran busses will visit local grocery stores to collect nonperishable food donations for area food pantries.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
Family of Teen Killed in Fairfax Station Crash Mourns — “Ariana Haftsavar, 16, was one of the two teens killed, her family confirmed to News4. Haftsavar’s family said she was a passenger in the car and was headed home from SAT class…Haftsavar’s father said she was a wonderful person, and they don’t know how they’re going to live without her.” [NBC4]
Competitive Kite Flying Frustrates Mason Neck — “In recent months, residents of the Mason Neck section of Lorton — a peninsula populated by farms, vast parkland and wildlife — have been dealing with a rather unconventional problem: kites…These kites, according to residents, are deliberately flown as high as possible or used competitively for kite fighting until their lines snap.” [On the MoVe]
Springfield Supervisor Weighs in on Merit Award Kerfuffle — “We need to be focused on helping each of our students reach their full potential. I am thankful that Attorney General Jason Miyares has opened an investigation into these actions and the possible violation(s) of the Virginia Human Rights Act.” [Pat Herrity/Twitter]
Annandale Townhomes Under Construction — “Construction is well underway on an infill townhome development at the McWhorter Place/Markham Drive intersection in Annandale. Christopher Cos. is building 43 townhouses at the Townes at Little River Crossing development. Three homes have already been sold, reports sales agent Liz Walker.” [Annandale Today]
More Security Vestibules Coming to FCPS — “Construction is scheduled to start this summer on security vestibules for at least 22 Fairfax County schools, according to school board documents. Forty sites are in the design phase and will be submitted to the county for permitting early this year.” [WTOP]
See the New Year’s Photo Contest Winners — “Many [residents] enjoyed the outdoors at one of the Park Authority’s more than 420 parks and along its more than 334 miles of trails as part of First Hike Fairfax 2023…This year, nearly 300 contestants submitted photos showcasing the sights and scenes they experienced.” [FCPA]
Proposed Bill May End School Snow Days — “Snow days would no longer be days off for students if proposed Virginia legislation is passed. A bill prefiled Monday calls for virtual learning days to be required when school districts close for weather…Currently, replacing snow days with unscheduled virtual learning days is only optional under Virginia law.” [Patch]
Woodson HS Alumni Return to Teach — “For these four teachers at Woodson High School, the route to becoming a teacher looks very different. But they now share a common bond: teaching together at the school they graduated from. The four men are all in their first few years of teaching and they all coach sports at FCPS.” [FCPS]
It’s Thursday — Rain in the evening and overnight. High of 63 and low of 41. Sunrise at 7:27 am and sunset at 5:08 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 10 a.m. on 1/12/2023) A man who provided acupuncture services at a medical school based in Tysons sexually assaulted a patient last summer, the Fairfax County Police Department says.
Dr. Chang Hee Kim, 64, was arrested yesterday (Tuesday) and charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery, a felony offense, police announced.
Licensed to practice acupuncture in Virginia since 2005, Kim has served as director of clinical operations at the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine (1980 Gallows Road) since 2015, according to police.
Per the FCPD, a woman said Kim touched her inappropriately on July 14 and 18 when she visited VUIM to get acupuncture treatment.
“During the treatment, Dr. Chang Hee Kim, a licensed acupuncturist, unlawfully touched her genital area. The victim later reported the incidents,” the FCPD said.
Detectives obtained warrants for Kim on Friday (Jan. 6), and he turned himself in to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center yesterday. He was given a $2,000 secured bond and has been released from custody, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
The bond was set by a magistrate, according to the Office of the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney, which says its prosecutors were not yet involved in the case. An arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday (Jan. 17).
VUIM says it no longer employs or is associated with Kim.
“Virginia University of Integrative Medicine (VUIM) is aware of the charges and arrest of Dr. Kim,” VUIM CEO John Yoo said by email. “VUIM has cooperated with the Fairfax County Police Department throughout their investigation…Given the sensitivity and ongoing legal nature of the matter, we have no further comment.”
According to police, Kim worked as an acupuncturist at “other medical facilities” in the D.C. region as well. Before moving to Virginia, he worked at a clinic in California.
Anyone with information about the case or other related incidents is advised to contact Major Crimes Bureau detectives at 703-246-7800, option 3. The FCPD also accepts anonymous tips through Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS or online.
Karl Frisch will run for a second term representing the Providence District on the Fairfax County School Board.
Frisch announced today that his qualifying paperwork has been approved, and he will seek an endorsement from the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, which can endorse candidates but not officially campaign them in the nonpartisan school board races.
Areas in the Providence District include Tysons, Dunn Loring, Idylwood, Merrifield, Mantua, and Oakton, along with parts of Fairfax, Falls Church, and Vienna.
A formal campaign launch will come later this year, ahead of the Nov. 7 general election.
“I am seeking reelection to help protect public education and local control,” Frisch said. “I will never stop fighting to give every student safe and inclusive public schools with exceptional educators and equitable access to the rigorous academics and other opportunities they need to be successful after graduation.”
When first elected in 2019, a year that ushered in a historically diverse, all-Democratic board, Frisch became the first openly gay person to ever serve on the county’s school board. He is the only out gay man currently on any school board in Virginia, according to his press release.
While the school board has often been occupied with responding to the pandemic over the past couple of years, Frisch’s work so far has included the Mosaic Elementary School naming, planning for a future Dunn Loring Elementary School, and a rerouting of school buses away from Blake Lane after two Oakton High School students were killed in June.
Last fall, he sought to join the General Assembly as the new 35th District delegate, but the Democratic nomination went to nonprofit leader Holly Seibold, who was elected to fill the vacated seat yesterday.
In his announcement, Frisch says he decided to seek reelection in response to state actions that would “compromise curriculum quality and jeopardize student safety.”
Fairfax County Public Schools has clashed on occasion with state leaders, most recently over a delay in merit award notifications. The school board sued Gov. Glenn Youngkin over his elimination of universal masking, and the governor has sided with opponents of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s admissions process.
Last year, Frisch criticized the widely protested draft state policies that would prevent schools from supporting transgender students as “putting the lives of young Virginians in jeopardy to score political points.”
Education is expected to be a key focus of this year’s General Assembly session, which convened today. Filed bills include a prohibition on students from joining athletic teams based on their gender identity, the creation of a statewide policy on library materials, and a voucher program that allow public funds to be used for private schools and services.
“This is a pivotal election year for Fairfax County,” Frisch said. “Will we abandon our world-class public schools in favor of risky Richmond political experiments, or will we continue our critical work to address every student by name and by need?”
All 12 school board seats will be up for election this November.
Frisch joins Hunter Mill District Representative Melanie Meren as the only incumbents so far to confirm they will seek another term. Dranesville District Representative Elaine Tholen said she won’t seek reelection, while other members have yet to announce their intentions.
This biweekly column is sponsored by The Mather in Tysons, Virginia, a forward-thinking Life Plan Community for those 62 and better.
You can boost your chances of sticking to your 2023 New Year’s resolutions by following good “goal practices.” To help you get off on the right foot, here are five tips from William Wesley Myers, assistant vice president of wellness strategies at Mather. Mather is the owner operator of The Mather, a Life Plan Community that is coming to Tysons in 2024.
“I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t in terms of fitness plans that people can follow through on,” William says. “And I think the same guidelines can apply to New Year’s resolutions.”
Regardless of whether you’ve made resolutions for 2023, you can increase your chances of reaching goals by using the steps below. They are written to target fitness goals, but they apply to other areas of life as well:
- Be specific as well as realistic — “Rather than make a vague resolution to get in shape or lose weight, decide on a specific, attainable goal,” William advises. For instance, if you want to get in shape to maintain your overall health, maybe your goal could be to lose a certain amount of weight by a specific reasonable deadline… or to be able to hike two miles.
- Big goal? Break it down — It’s great to think big when it comes to fitness goals… but a lofty goal like being able to run a marathon can be daunting, and that makes it easy to abandon. Particularly for goals or resolutions about weight loss or exercise, map out a timeline of smaller milestones to help you reach the overall goal. Or schedule weekly or monthly check-ins to see how you’re doing.
- Put it on your calendar — Once you’ve decided on a specific goal and broken it down if necessary, plan when you will devote time to working toward it. “I suggest you literally put it on your calendar,” says William. “Whether you are noting an hour every morning for a brisk walk or listing when your new yoga class takes place — if you don’t make time for it at the outset, you won’t be able to work toward that goal.”
- Share your plan for added support — Imagine two scenarios: In the first, you’ve resolved to lose weight, but you don’t tell anyone because you feel self-conscious. In the second, you tell your friends and family about your goal; this allows them to support you, and help hold you accountable. “Having others who may ask about your progress, cheer your successes, or hear about your setbacks will help you stick to your goal,” says William.
- Stay resilient — With any major goal, you’re going to experience setbacks. “When you backslide a little, start the next day fresh and resolve to get back to your good habits,” says William. “It’s human nature to use one lapse as an excuse for more — but if you resolve at the outset not to let that happen to you, you’ll be ahead of the game.”
“You’ll notice that most of these steps happen before you ever lace up your running shoes or eat your first salad,” says William. “By taking some time and researching and selecting a realistic fitness goal, breaking it down into steps before you get started, and scheduling when you’ll work on it, you are making it easy to stick with good habits and make it all happen.”
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Democrat Holly Seibold won a special election on Jan. 10 for Virginia’s 35th House District seat (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Holly Seibold is headed to Richmond.
The nonprofit founder and Democratic nominee won a special election yesterday to represent Virginia’s 35th House District, which encompasses Vienna, Oakton, Dunn Loring, Fair Oaks and part of Tysons.
Vying to succeed Mark Keam, who resigned in September after 13 years in the House of Delegates, she defeated Republican contender Monique Baroudi with 67% of the vote, according to the Virginia Department of Elections’ unofficial results.
“I am beyond grateful to the voters of the 35th District for electing me to the Virginia House of Delegates,” Seibold wrote in a statement. “Virginia rejected extremism in 2022, and in 2023, we have rejected it again. Because equality, justice, and freedom are Virginian values!”
Seibold will be sworn in today, as the General Assembly convenes in Richmond for its 2023 session.
Thank you so much to everyone who has participated in this special election! Whether you were a canvasser, a donor, a poll worker, or a candidate yourself, you helped make our democracy stronger.
— Holly Seibold (@HollySeiboldVA) January 11, 2023
Given Keam’s long, mostly unchallenged tenure, it’s not a surprise to see another Democrat prevail in the 35th District, but voters still turned out at a slightly higher rate than in previous special elections in Fairfax County.
According to unofficial returns from the Fairfax County Office of Elections, there were 10,888 ballots cast in the special election, representing 17.9% of the district’s 60,883 registered voters. In comparison, special elections for the 33rd Senate District and the 86th House District in 2019 saw turnout rates of 16.5% and 13.7%, respectively.
Notably, voting laws have changed significantly over the past couple of years, which have seen the introductions of no-excuse absentee voting and same-day registrations, among other reforms.
About half of the votes in the 35th District special election either came through early voting — which began on Nov. 23 and ended Saturday (Jan. 7) — or were mailed in and counted on the night of the election.
Founder and president of the nonprofit BRAWS, which collects and distributes mentrual supplies, Seibold cited reproductive health care, gun violence prevention, public education and climate action as top priorities.
Baroudi, a former government contractor, campaigned primarily on education issues, criticizing Fairfax County Public Schools as a system in decline and saying that private schools handled Covid better.
Seibold outspent Baroudi by a significant margin, reporting $265,000 in campaign spending to her opponent’s $47,513.
Seibold is guaranteed just one year in the House of Delegates. When all 100 seats in the chamber go on the ballot this November, the Vienna area will be represented by a new 12th District created in 2021.
(Updated at 3:25 p.m.) A man in McLean died last night after reportedly being stabbed by his stepson, Fairfax County police say.
Officers were called to a house in the 1200 block of Colonial Road in McLean at 11:03 p.m. in response to a domestic call involving two stabbing victims, Fairfax County Police Department Second Lt. James Curry said in a 1:48 a.m. update.
In the call, a woman said her son had stabbed her and her husband.
The son — identified in a report released this afternoon as 39-year-old Adam Timothy Jackson Jr. — was leaving the house and taken into custody when officers arrived.
“Upon searching the home, they found the husband suffering trauma to the upper body,” Curry said. “Life-saving measures were attempted but sadly he was declared deceased at the home.”
According to police, the victim was 68-year-old Alan Miller Kaufman, Jackson’s stepfather.
The woman was transported to a hospital with injuries that police said were not considered life-threatening.
“The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy in the coming days to determine the cause and manner of death,” the FCPD said. “Detectives continue to conduct interviews, collect video surveillance and process evidence recovered from the scene to determine the circumstances that led up to the fatal stabbing.”
The department’s Major Crimes Bureau can be contacted at 703-246-7800, option 2. Anonymous tips are accepted through Crime Solvers by phone (1-866-411-TIPS), and online.
Officers are on scene of a fatal stabbing at a home in the 1200 blk of Colonial Rd, McLean. Adult man declared deceased on scene & an adult man is in custody. Preliminarily, believed to be domestic-related. Detectives responding to investigate. pic.twitter.com/m1V2W3criT
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) January 11, 2023
DOUBLE STABBING IN McLEAN WITH ONE CRITICAL. @ffxnow https://t.co/weYYaH0r2A
— Alan Henney (@alanhenney) January 11, 2023
Development Proposed in Richmond Highway Area — “Fairfax County officials are opening the Site Specific Plan Amendment process for multiple sites in the county…For Southeast Fairfax County, that could include a new use for the property where the Moon Inn sits on Richmond Highway, big changes to the Rose Hill Shopping Center and Frontier Plaza, and hundreds of new residences, including dedicated affordable units.” [Alexandria Living]
Seven Arrested in Child Solicitation Sting — “In each case, offenders used internet platforms to initiate explicit conversations and solicit sex from police officers posing as children. When each of the suspects arrived at the agreed upon locations, detectives took them into custody. The men ranged in age from 26-52 and were charged with a total of 49 felonies.” [FCPD]
Abortion Among Concerns in 35th District Election — “The debate over abortion in Virginia came through loud and clear Tuesday during a special election in Fairfax County, in which voters were choosing a candidate to replace Mark Keam, a longtime Democratic state delegate who resigned in September.” [WTOP]
New Book Examines Process of Desegregating Libraries — “In their research for the book, Chris Barbuschak and Suzanne LaPierre, librarians in Fairfax County Public Library’s Virginia Room, found that public libraries are often referred to as bastions of democracy, providing equal access to knowledge and shared resources. ‘Yet public libraries have not always been open to all,’ Barbuschak and LaPierre explain in the book.” [Patch]
Wealth Management Firm Expanding to Tysons — “Investment management firm Chevy Chase Trust Co. is opening a new office in Northern Virginia. It would be just the second brick-and-mortar location for the Bethesda company…The second office, at 8201 Greensboro Drive in Tysons will gradually open throughout this month, the company said.” [Washington Business Journal]
Applications Now Open for New Arts Grant — “The Ticket Subsidy Grants are non-matching grants to Fairfax County arts organizations to fund free and reduced-price tickets and transportation for performances, workshops, classes, and camps for people who may not have regular opportunities to experience the arts. Applicants may request up to $5,000 for activities taking place before June 30, 2023.” [ArtsFairfax]
A Deep Dive into Reston’s History — “Reston was officially born on April 10, 1964 as a planned community funded by real estate developer Robert E. Simon who had purchased 6,750 acres of land in Fairfax County after selling a notable family property, Carnegie Hall in New York City.” [Ghosts of DC]
Give Feedback on Environmental Issues Tonight — “The Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) will hold its annual public comment meeting on January 11, 2023, at 7:15 p.m. in Conference Room 4/5 of the Fairfax County Government Center…The public is encouraged to attend EQAC’s public comment meeting to share views on the state of the environment and to identify environmental issues of concern applicable to Fairfax County.” [OEEC]
It’s Wednesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 47 and low of 34. Sunrise at 7:28 am and sunset at 5:07 pm. [Weather.gov]
Panera Bread has left Tysons Corner Center.
The fast-casual bakery’s first-floor location by McDonald’s is permanently closed after at least 14 years at the mall, according to Yelp.
A worker at the nearby Panera in Pike 7 Plaza confirmed to FFXnow that the closure came shortly before Christmas.
“I heard it’s because they didn’t have enough workers,” the employee said.
Panera’s corporate office didn’t respond to requests for comment by press time.
A notice posted to the storefront encouraged customers to visit the chain’s Pike 7 Plaza or Falls Church City locations. The company also has a bakery at 136 Maple Avenue in Vienna.
Aye @panerabread what’s going on?! We need you at Tysons Mall! pic.twitter.com/PqF9LCZhUM
— RIP Joe Beezzy (@BlackNorbit) December 26, 2022
Other recent developments at the mall include the arrival of a stall for Donutchew, a growing mochi doughnut business that also has a location in Vienna. A temporary exhibition of art rescued from Afghanistan or created by evacuated artists is also now on display outside Macy’s.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
My post last week was about predictions for the real estate market this year.
I mentioned at the end that there are multiple down payment assistance programs available in Virginia. I want to highlight some of them here. With the new calendar year, new funds are available for these programs and first-time buyers should be aware these are available.
However, before I get to those programs I want to highlight two programs that are readily available at all times:
FHA Loan, which is available to potential buyers who don’t currently own a home with only a 3.5% down payment with a minimum credit score of 580 (if the score is 500-579 they require 10% down). This is only available on your primary residence, not a rental.
Conventional loan with 3% down. A common mis-conception is that you need 20% down to buy a home. But you can put down anything from 3% and over on a conventional loan. The big deal with the 20% down is that anything less requires mortgage insurance, which is an additional payment each month on your mortgage until you get to that magical 80% loan to value number (which can come through payments or appreciation).
Again, each loan program has nuances and requirements, so you’ll want to speak to an experienced loan officer to determine which one is best for you.
Now, down to payment assistance programs. Let’s talk basic requirements:
- First time buyer
- Buying your primary home
- Meet eligibility requirements (income limits and credit verification)
- Only specific loan officers can do many of these loans as they must be approved
Virginia DHCD: Down Payment Assistance Program DPA
- Offers gap financing in the form of a grant/forgivable loan for first-time buyers at or below 80% of the area median income
- Can receive up to 10% or 15% of the sales price plus up to $2,500 towards closing costs
- 2022 Adjust Home Income Limits for DC Metro: $63,000 for 1 person, $72,000 for 2 people
Closing Cost Assistance Grant
- Helps to eliminate funds needed for closing
Mortgage Credit Certificate
- Could lower federal income taxes owed, tax credit can be taken for the life of loan
USDA (Rural Housing)
- 100% Financing option
- Low mortgage insurance
Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage
- Combines 2 mortgage together to cover the cost of your down payment
Many of these programs can be combined to maximize your benefits.
To read more about these programs, Virginia Housing has a great website with information. If you want to talk about how we can work together to make your dream of home ownership a reality, please reach out.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Parking requirements in Fairfax County — which are getting their first major overhaul since 1988 — are set for public hearings later this year.
The multi-year effort — coined Parking Reimagined — is the focus of an open house coming this week.
“Access to the internet, along with flexible telework options and convenient home delivery of goods, has decreased the need or desire to drive to shop or work,” the county says. “Growth of transit availability with the expansion of Metrorail and bus service and the movement toward compact walkable mixed-use communities has decreased the need for auto trips and parking demand.”
The county is now seeking feedback on draft recommendations related to off-street parking, loading and bicycle parking. A final draft is expected to be released later this year, with public hearings slated for the spring.
“County staff’s final recommendations will be presented at each of those public hearings,” the county says.
One of the most significant changes is the introduction of a tiered system for off-street parking requirements in the county’s specialized planning districts. The effort is intended to accommodate and encourage more modes of transportation in walkable and high-density areas.
Most of the county would be designated as tier 1, which covers low-density areas that would only see modest parking rate reductions. Tier three — the highest tier — would see the most significant changes.
The tiered system sets rates based on the development’s gross square footage instead of the number of people served:
The proposal reduces the parking rate for shopping centers by excluding interior open areas of centers under 1 million square feet from parking calculations.
For residential uses, apartment unit spaces would be reduced from 1.6 to 1.3 spaces per unit.
For townhouses, 2.7 spaces per unit are required, with 0.2 set aside for visitor or shared parking. That’s lower than a previous proposal of 0.7 in response to concerns about increases in impervious surfaces. A similar change is under consideration for stacked townhouses.
With regards to off-street parking, the county would round down instead of up when calculating the parking requirement. For example, if the tabulated parking is 3.7, only three spaces would be required instead of four.
Also, the number of required accessible spaces will be calculated using the overall baseline minimum for a particular building or use before taking into account any adjustments allowed for suburban centers and revitalization areas.
After holding a meeting last week, the county is set to hold another open house on Thursday (Jan. 12) at 7 p.m., followed by a discussion before the Board of Supervisors’ land use policy committee on Feb. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Comments should be submitted by next Monday (Jan. 16) to be reviewed by staff for inclusion in the final draft.
“It continues to be important to strike a balance between the importance of parking and the environment while maintaining shared parking opportunities,” the county says.
